Lionheart

Chapter 18

"I don't get why you didn't bring an umbrella, Mal."

Mallory sighs. This day is regrettably one of the most infuriating days she's had to subject herself to. It didn't go so well in and out of the library—although she is willing to admit that the recent events that transpired in her brand new circle of... "acquaintances" were mighty interesting. Only now does it truly dawn on Mallory that she's in for a very entertaining year; not only is she unequipped for all this drama, but she has successfully assimilated herself into the brewing mayhem. More importantly, however, is the realization that while not everything is going according to plan, it seemed like Nick saw some value in her passionate suggestion. He's still a difficult little pissbaby diva, though, which will hopefully change before Mallory resorts to violence (unintentionally, of course).

The more she flexes her magnificent brains, the more insignificant her wet socks seem.

"What are you smiling about?"

That is, until her nosy sister raises an eyebrow at her and doesn't bother turning the heater on. Oh, the woes of having a perpetually warm sibling.

Mallory sets to work ridding herself of her sneakers and mushy socks. She gives her sister a noncommittal grunt. "Man, think about your own problems first."

The sigh that follows seems to fill the silence within the car. Mallory shivers and turns the heater on. The car cruises gently along the damp pavement, slower than anyone who might be driving behind them would appreciate. Well, assuming their windshield wipers move faster than brutal and aggravated raindrops. Did their town do something wrong for the weather to give it this much grief?

"Aren't you the least bit happy to see me? It's been months..." Although Ken doesn't dare to take her eyes of the road, she does have the presence of mind to pout. Unfortunately, Mallory cares very little about her sister's feelings at this point.

"Sure, bro. I might be happy, but... it's been months since you got into a fight with Curtis? Is that supposed to be a good thing? You only come back when this happens."

Another plaintive sigh. Mallory knows that sigh. She knows the very sigh her mother makes when there's trouble that doesn't seem to warrant any solving from the part of the troubled party. It's the sigh that brings complete silence even to Mallory's mind; it's a rough, heavy exhale that shakes until it fades and there's no more room for words until an apology forced through gritted teeth days later. Mallory's heart lodges itself in her throat, but she swallows it down and turns away.

"I'm happy anyway," she amends quietly. She does miss her sister.

"Good. I'm happy, too." All things considered, the subtle lilt in Ken's tone speaks for itself. "And don't worry about us too much. We're sorting things out. You know we always do."

Mallory very nearly rolls her eyes only because she's relieved not to have semi-unwittingly started a fight with Ken. That, however, does not mean she isn't at least a tiny bit frustrated. Ken's husband is usually the one who sorts out their marital woes by being the one to apologize first while Kendal is the stubborn dickwaffle who starts and prolongs the fights.

"Yeah, sure." Whatever helps you sleep at night, sis.

A/N: Abominably short chapter, I know, but I really didn't want to force it. I'll make it up to you guys with the next Mal chapter.

Why do I subject myself to this torture? My brain keeps telling me "no stupid bitch go write that flowershop story or that androgynous oc or that series of short stories anything but Mallory" but I still love my characters.

Pls tell me everything that went wrong in this chapter. Better yet tell me everything wrong abt the latest chapters. I could use an reader's opinion on the pacing, too. It's something I constantly worry about.